Table call device combined with ash-tray



F. REA

TABLE CALL DEVICE COMBINED WITH ASH-TRAY April 7, 1959 Filed July 3, 195a United States Patent TABLE CALL DEVICE COMBINED WITH ASH-TRAY Ferdinando Rea, Rome, Italy Application July 3, 1956, Serial No. 595,776

Claims priority, application Italy July 16, 1955 1 Claim. (Cl. 116-155) My present invention relates to a table call device combined with an usual ash-tray.

It occurs in bars, restaurants, cook-shops, publichouses and the like, that the client wish, at need, to attract attention of the Waiters or of any other service staff; this is effected generally by words, by signs of calling or more particularly by tinkling articles which stand next to hand of the client, and it produces drawbacks and confusion. It is not a good practice, however, to cumber the table with bells or other additional known devices.

In order to avoid the aforesaid drawbacks, my present invention provides a simple call device, characterized by the fact that a push-button and a bell are applied to an usual ash-tray, said push-button being connected to said bell in such a way that a push on the push-button causes a suitable clapper to strike on the bell and accordingly to produce the call sound.

The device of my present invention has the advantage of joining in a single article the already necessary ashtray, generally supplied to the clients, and the call bell which avoids production of noises and clamours.

In order to make clear my present invention, it will now be described, only for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, a form of embodiment thereof, referring to the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device according to my present invention, taken on the axis of said device.

Referring now to the drawing, there is indicated with reference number 1 the ash-tray body, e.g. of metal plate or plastics or the like, which is closed at its lower end by a bottom 2 applied in any known manner, e.g. by means of screws (not shown).

The edge of the ash-tray body 1 is provided with a cavity 3, on the bottom of which a bush 4 is suitably fixed; in the bush 4 slides a pin 5 which has a pushbutton 6 screwed on its upper end. A spring 7 placed around the pin 5, between the bush 4 and the pushbutton 6, keeps the push-button 6 raised in inoperative position. A cylindric tube is fixed on the center of the ash-tray body 1 by means of nuts 8 and 9. The inner side of the upper end of said cylindric tube 10 is screwed and is closed with a screw cover 11 to which the bell 12 is fixed, e.g. by welding. It is apparent that the central cylindric tube 10 coacts to keep the bottom 2 against the ash-tray body 1 by means of its lower end, so as to render eventually not necessary the use of the said fixing screws for the bottom 2.

A vertical slot is provided in the tube 10, between the nuts 8 and 9, through which a rod 13 enters the tube 10; the rod 13 is connected to the lower end of the pin 5 of the push-button 6, extends upwardly with an angle 6 of 90 degrees in the interior of the tube 10, and is bent "ice outwardly at its top, forming a crank 14. About in correspondence of the crank 14, the tube 10 has two suitable facing vertical slots, through which passes, transversely to the tube 10, a lever 15 pivoted at its center on a pin 16 suitably connected to the tube 10.

One end of the lever 15 is pivotally connected on the top of the crank 14 of the rod 13, while the other end carries a steel wire 17 fixed thereon and suitably shaped; said steel wire 17 carries in turn at its free end a little ball 18 of metal or other material; said little ball 18 is used as hammer or clapper for the bell 12. A suitable stopping projection 19 upon the lever 15 prevents the end of the lever 15 to rise beyond a determinated degree; the stopping projection 19 is so arranged that, when the lever 15 is in contact with the stopping projection 19, i.e. at the position of maximum raising, the little ball 18 is scarce spaced from the bell 12, e.g. about 0.1 inch.

The operation of the above described device is as follows:

The push-button 6 is pushed down, against the action of the spring 7; the pin 5 moves downwardly through the bush 4, and urges downwardly the rod 13 and consequently the crank 14, thereby causing counter-clockwise rotation (viewing the drawing) of the lever 15, so that the right end (viewing the drawing) of the lever 15 rises and knocks against the stopping projection 19. Then the little ball 18 is moved upwardly, through the steel wire 17, and subsequently to the stop of the lever 15 against the projection 19, it follows in its run till it strikes against the bell 12, so as to generate the desired sound. Then the little ball 18 moves immediately back and stops in the above mentioned position spaced from the bell 12, so as not to die down the sound vibrations of the bell.

It has to be understood that various rearrangements, modifications and variations may be provided to the various parts of the hereinabove described and illustrated invention, without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A table call device and ash tray comprising an ash tray having an interior receptacle portion being defined by a peripheral portion having spaced interior and exterior walls, a hollow post centrally supported from said tray, a bell carried at the upper end of said post, a flexible clapper aflixed to a lever pivotally supported by said post, a manual actuator for said lever supported on said tray within said peripheral portion and housed by said spaced walls and including an exposed vertically movable push button, an L-shaped operating rod interconnecting said manual actuator and said lever having its upright portion housed in said post connected to said lever and its horizontal portion extending beneath said receptacle portion and attached to said manual actuator whereby vertical movement of said push button vertically translates the operating rod to operate the lever and clapper providing a signal call.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,034,685 Bubeck Aug. 6, 1912 FOREIGN PATENTS 626,937 France May 24, 1927 969,149 France May 17, 1950 

